Quality goods falls

I did not write, but actually ran into a problem when the new techniques become less quality. And this despite the fact that the refrigerators produced 40 years ago in the Soviet Union where some are still working.
In addition, the manufacturer begins to compete with their own products, there are other reasons.
About them in the article itself, and it.

The life cycle of the things around us all the more reduced.
At the same time observed decline in the quality of most goods. Not so long ago it was possible to pass from the first to the fifth year of university with the Nokia 3310, is not particularly ashamed of this fact, and be sure that the phone will last a long time. Some items are still in working order, despite the impressive age. But in the current realities of the actual iPhone 5 a month can turn into a pumpkin not only Ustari, but broken. And so things almost everything.





When the quality (and reliability) of the product differs by 5% - this can not be seen even professional. If the quality drops by tens of percent - it is visible to the naked eye. When talking about the reliability of all the goods - this is a serious fall.

So what's the deal? It may seem that concerns have become more brazen. But they are always chasing profits, increasing audacity without much consideration. And now you can see how much this contributes to marketing, which has become an extremely important factor. Currently, more technically simple car or some home appliance, with undistinguished and unremarkable quality characteristics, but having a big name, and striking design are more "imposed" rather than a quality product. As many manufacturers, using marketing gimmicks marching to the detriment of quality, retain an inflated price of the goods, thereby increasing its margins.

But this is only the tip of the iceberg. The main reason lies in industrial engineering.

The development of any thing, usually referred to as the engineering work, the genius of designers, developers, etc. This is a true statement. But nowadays conceptually new development unit. Most of the work of engineers and designers - a refinement and improvement of existing products. Previously, developers had to invest a large margin in the product, because it was not necessary diagnostic facilities. Now the situation has changed radically. Just about this and wanted to talk.

Thus, the work of an engineer - is, first of all calculations, the development or improvement, taking into account various factors. To do this, create drawings, models and prototypes. Previously, all the calculations were based on simplified mathematical models and tables. The advent of the computer and its development was the breakthrough stage. But the software does not keep pace with progress, especially in terms of engineering programs as well as development takes time and investment (both financial and basic mathematical algorithms). In its origins, the program was based on the transfer of drawings from the drawing board to the computer, which is only accelerated the work of the engineer. Further, the drawings become bulky, thereby increasing their accuracy and allowed to combine with a program-controlled machine tools (CNC). Many programs, such as CATIA, appeared in the early 80s. But they were quite limited. The turning point was the 90, then the power of computers made it possible to develop software of a different order.

Consider the example of 3D modeling. Software developed in those years, and is now used, but have undergone dramatic changes. The fact, that in itself 3D, in the form in which it understands computer users differs from 3D design. This is not what we are used to seeing in movies, games, etc. It looks flashy, but is the physical properties of a real prototype, describing it with great mathematical precision, but it appeared in the 90s. Serious progress in the work of the engineer began to facilitate communication between the machine (CNC) and work out the details. The next step in the development was the stage when the engineer could create more than one item, and immediately the whole mechanism, taking into account the work of the unit as a whole. This was reflected in the growth of the quality and the appearance of the myth of the "reliability».

Consider the case of a simple example of a monolithic construction. Make a calculation of high-rise building complex form "manually" takes too much time. Just as a test of its reliability. Therefore rise building was less accurate and not as well developed, there has been a greater margin for overexpenditure materials. It is essentially unprofitable. But now, when the computer is in a position to consider obviously more factors than the designer has changed not only the process, but also the industry. The house is no longer necessary to lay the costs of additional building materials, which can be helped to become stronger building. Now it is clear in advance how and what to build the house, provide him with acceptable reliability to face and not spend too much.

In the automotive industry, everything changed with the beginning of the 2000s, when the engineer came to the aid of the technology PLM. It became a turning landmark in the history of engineering and electronics. This technology has enabled engineers to combine product development and production. This has led to the fact that treating apparatus in general, not been possible to separate nodes rehypothecate margin. In this regard, the whole structure becomes more ravnoiznosnoy.

On one side of the structure has suffered or has become less reliable. On the other - lapping between the nodes become more uniform, and changes in the production process can be made without stopping and restarting the cycle. Ie finishing the product, eliminating mistakes and shortcomings known to the consumer under the pseudonym restyling has become more "painless" for the manufacturer. It is no accident since then service is on the VIN code, that would be clear which parts or components have been changed and what parts are needed.

It should be noted that the transition to new technologies is a very expensive and lengthy process. Therefore, not all companies make products exactly "in step" with the development of engineering software. For example, the domestic auto industry only rises to modern technology. Today tried a new approach when working on the UAZ Patriot and bus LiAZ. Information on the use of specific technologies AvtoVAZ there is only a set of applications.

Expanding, PLM has gone beyond the boundaries of plants and design bureaus, and came to the dealers. Dealer, accounting records of repair and warranty cases sends them in PLM. After that, engineers at the plant can evaluate how their design lives in the real world, the end-user. It turns out to any parties there are certain problems. And here come already obvious progress in the deterioration of product quality. Frankly, this is where the quality ends. Now is not the factory checks the product and the consumer. Instead of endurance tests - actual operation under the supervision of the dealer, but for its own account of the client. But getting PLM, engineers greatly simplified the process for themselves research and development, shifting the test to get the result on the shoulders of the buyer. This has allowed seriously reduce both timing and resources for product development, not to mention the work on the bugs in the form of compulsory facelift or restyling. Engineers quietly collect data on all faults, analyze and make changes to the final product. The system, which is to improve the quality, it has become a murderer. And now, crash tests are carried out on the same computer.

Meanwhile, the software continues to evolve. It has become more and more precise and takes into account the many factors affecting the life of the product under conditions close to reality. One of the latest developments in engineering Steel calculations of air and gas streams. This can be clearly seen in the struggle for endemic aerodynamics, and the ease with which engineers are now added to any one engine, and even two turbines. All are more accurate hydraulic calculations, which allows to calculate the life of the mechanism in a particular oil or other liquids. All this can be much more precise to predict the lifetime of the product. And ravnoiznosnye products whose service life of all main units and units will be the same - it is quite near future.

In this respect the automakers still have some way to go in many ways it has been overcome in electronics. Judging by the fact that many mobile phones out of warranty fails built-in memory, defect, leading to the inevitable replacement of the unit with a new, pre-incorporated in its design. It remains to create a display so skillfully dying two years later, the product turned out to ravnoiznosnym. And with a battery to understand. That is a little more work on the two main components of the three. The car obviously important aggregates more and teach them to die in one day more difficult.

What's next? The software will be developed, it certainly. Consequently, we are waiting for the next breakthrough technologies. They will lead to a new industrial revolution, comparable in scale to the invention of the steam engine or electrification. One of the innovations of this magnitude - 3D printer. It is worth mentioning, for those who do not know that today the production of parts is carried out in several ways. This casting products (in this technology is the lack of need to remove or destroy its shape), the recess of the blanks or milling lathe and pressing. 3D printers have a significant difference. They are not limited by the form and make the product layers. This allows even the smallest detail and all possible channels within the structure. And in case of the need to change some characteristics, in the manufacture of items in a 3D printer, it is sufficient to program a new settings. What is very difficult to do with other technologies: on the press or casting.

There are an extraordinary perspective. If the 3D master not only the manufacturer, but its dealer is often necessary for the maintenance and repair of parts may disappear from the market and no alternative source of income to become a dealer, forever tied to consumer services in a single place on any designated prices on a whim.

If the second half of the twentieth century, the car was given 10-15 years of his life on the line, now reduced to the age of seven to nine years, with the obligatory facelift or restyling.

Even without any reliability and durability because the faster turnover of models in production (or add-on a single platform), the higher the profitability of the business. Consumers, in turn, draws attention to the big screen in which you can poke a finger in faith that he controls the pinnacle of progress.

I remember the product Strugatsky brothers "Predatory Things of the century" as a whole reflects the ambiguity of objects and our increasing dependence on them.

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